James J. Gee James J. Gee, a prominent native of Michigan and an enterprising and prosperous business man of Whitehall, Muskegon County, was born in the township of Albion, not far from the village of Homer, in Calhoun County, December 19, 1851. Our subject is the only living son of William N. and Lucinda (Turner) Gee, pioneer settlers of the Wolverine State. The father, born in Virgil, Cortland County, N. Y., August 26, 1827, was one of the two sons of Jacob B. Gee, also a native of Virgil, and born in 1807. The paternal great-grandfather, John S. Gee, was the son of Maj. John Gee, an Englishman by birth, but a brave soldier of the War for Independence. He held a Major's commission and served with distinction during the entire period of the struggle. The Major carried an old bull's-eye watch, since handed down from generation to generation until it came into the possession of William N., while he was yet a boy. Not realizing the historical value of the memento, the father traded the watch off for a cheap shotgun, but now would give half of his property if he could recover the old relic of Revolutionary days. A brother of the father, Volney Gee, served bravely during the Civil War and was among the the first to answer his country's call. When an attempt was made to cross the Potomac Bridge at Fredericksburgh in the face of a murderous fire from the other side, and the commanding officer called for volunteers to make the dash, he, with others, in the face of almost certain death, undertook the hopeless task. Nearly all of the courageous Federals fell before the deadly fire of the rebel troops.Volney Gee was thrice wounded in the right arm and when told that it must be amputated to save his life, replied that he had rather be sent home dead than lose his arm. Every effort possible was made to preserve his life, but the heroic young soldier expired in the hospital in Washington. He was Sergeant of his company, and records show him one of the bravest soldiers of the war, gallant in action, resolute and fearless. Physically, he was a magnificent specimen of manhood, six feet in height, as straight as an arrow, and in deed a soldier born. John S. Gee, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a small farmer and hotel-keeper of Virgil, N. Y., and his hotel was a rendezvous for the soldiers of the War of 1812. At his death this property was inherited by Jacob B., who was his only son. Jacob sold the the old home and removed to Steuben County, N. Y. He was a tiller of the soil, and in 1833 he journeyed to Michigan on a prospecting tour, and in the pioneer days of 1835 brought his family to the then far West and settled in Calhoun County, Mich. He took up a small piece of land from the Government and bought other real-estate near Albion. William N., the only living son, was then a lad of eight years. The paternal grandfather married at nineteen years of age Miss Libby Ballou, who was born in Herkimer County, N. Y. She was the daughter of a Frenchman, and a niece of a celebrated sea-captain. The noted Methodist preacher, Ballou, was one of this same family, as was also the mother of the late President Garfield. Five of the ten children of the paternal grandfather are deceased, and their mother long since passed away. Our subject's father, William N., the eldest, was the possessor of more than ordinary ability but had little opportunity to gain an education, as he was early obliged to assist his father in the support of the brothers and sisters who clustered about the family hearth. When only twenty years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Turner, the daughter of Elijah Turner, a farmer and the son f a once wealthy distiller whom the revenue laws ruined. The distiller, known as Judge Turner, was a prominent politician of his day and a man widely known and respected. It was in 1853 that Jacob B. Gee removed to Muskegon County and made his home not far from Whitehall, and there upon the old homestead he is yet living. The Gee family in the West represent four generations: Jacob B., the only son of John J.; William N., the only living son of Jacob B.; James J., the only living son of William N., and the children of James J.: Carl, Merle and Lynn. William N. and his family came to Muskegon County in 1865. He has been a successful general agriculturist and fruit-grower and has accumulated a comfortable competence. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1857, and is and has been a life-long temperance man, being identified with the Prohibition party. he has never accepted a political office, but has been a Trustee and for many years a Class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the parental father were five children, one dying in infancy. Emma, the eldest living, was for fifteen years a successful teacher in the public schools. She is an active worker in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and is a clear and forcible writer, strong in argument, and choice in diction. A maiden lady, she makes her home with her parents. Clara married G. A. Sumner, formerly a merchant, but now cultivating one of the fine fruit farms of J. J. Gee; Cora Bird, the youngest girl, was a graduate of Whitehall High School and died in early womanhood. James J., our subject, attained to adult age upon his father's farm. He was fourteen years old when, in 1865, his parents came to Muskegon County. He completed his education in the Whitehall High School and afterward taught for one year. Later he entered the hardware store of P. Morse & Son, of Whitehall, but, the firm failing at the end of two years' service, he purchased the stock from the creditors entirely on time and against the advice of his friends, who warned him that by doing so he would only make a second failure of the business. Confident of his own ability and determined to succeed, Mr. Gee went ahead with courage and from the first steadily made his upward way, the business increasing constantly, until now he controls one of the largest hardware and furniture trades in this part of Michigan. Beginning for himself about fifteen years ago with about $1,000 capital, our subject has accumulated a handsome property and aside from his business interests in Whitehall is extensively engaged in fruit-growing, owning one of the finest young fruit farms in Muskegon County and another equally as valuable in Oceana County. Mr. Gee is an enthusiast in horticulture, giving it much careful study and attention, and receives both pleasure and profit from from the possession of these valuable pieces of real-estate. He firmly believes that Michigan has the finest fruit soil and climate of any State East of the Rockies. Upon his Muskegon and Oceana County Farms, he has five thousand five hundred, the choicest varieties of peaches, apples, quinces, plums and pears grown in this latitude. Combining business and recreation, our subject now spends much of his time in his orchards, and for the past few years has allowed himself more opportunity for rest and relaxation from the daily cares of life. By untiring industry and shrewd business management attaining the pinnacle of success, he can now afford to let others do the work, while he yet continues the watchful oversight necessary to the prosperity of his extensive business interests. Mr. Gee has not desired to hold local office, never feeling he could spare the time from his own private business, which so long demanded his unceasing care. Our subject is, however, a public-spirited man, and with efficiency served one term as Supervisor of the township and for two terms ably discharged the duties of Treasurer of the township. In August of the year 1880, Mr. Gee and Miss Ida Widoe, of Whitehall, were united in marriage. Mrs. Gee is a daughter of the late John Widoe, a prominent clothing merchant of Whitehall. He was born in Pennsylvania, and was the worthy descendant of a long line of brave and honored ancestry. The attractive home of Mr. and Mrs. Gee has been blessed by the birth of three sons: Carl, aged twelve years; Merle, ten years old; and Lynn, aged eight years. Our subject and his estimable wife are both valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active in benevolent enterprises. Fraternally, Mr. Gee is connected with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and in his social, business and church relations commands the esteem and high regard of the entire community of old friends and acquaintances. Prof. Joseph H. Sheffield, the efficient and cultured
Principal of the Muskegon High School, is a native of New England, and
was born June 21, 1861, in the city of Worcester, Worcestor County, Mass.
The Sheffields are of English ancestry and early became permanent settlers
in Rhode Island and New York. Charles P. Sheffield, the father of Joseph
H., was born in Franklin County, N. Y. The mother of our subject, Lucy
(Keach) Sheffield, was the daughter of Joseph H. Keach, a prominent citizen
of Connecticut, who long resided in Windham County, the birthplace of his
children. Remaining in Worcester throughout the years of boyhood, Prof.
Sheffield prepared for college in the Worcester High School, from which,
after a full course, he graduated with honor in 1879. In the fall of the
same year he entered Harvard University and, taking the classical course,
at the expiration of four years graduated with the Class of '83, receiving
the degree of A. B. Prof. Sheffield was also the recipient of especial
honors in Latin and Greek, and during his collegiate course made an enviable
record in every branch of study which he pursued. Having enjoyed the benefit
of extended instruction, he decided to engage in the vocation of teacher,
and in the fall of 1883 took charge of Old Lyme Academy, located in the
town of Old Lyme, Conn., situated on the Connecticut River. Peter H. Wintermute,
proprietor of the leading livery, board and sales stable at Muskegon, was
born in Orange County, N. J., on the 30th of November, 1834. He traces
his ancestry to Germany, whence in an early day his paternal grandfather,
John Wintermute, emigrated to America, making settlement in New Jersey.
There, in 1810, Septer Wintermute, the father of our subject, was born,
and in Orleans County, that State, in 1813, Emily Bartholf, mother of our
subject, opened her eyes upon the scenes of earth. The former followed
the business of a hotel-keeper in various places, and also conducted a
livery stable. |
Copyright © 2000 by Patti Norton. All rights reserved.